Toy vehicle starting mechanism

ABSTRACT

THE TOY VEHICLES ONCE ON THE TRACK. UPON SLIDING THE SUPPORT FRAME, THE TOY VEHICLES ARE ENERGIZED AND AN EXCITING RACE IS BEGUN. THE STARTING MECHANISM IS INEXPENSIVE TO MANUFACTURE AND EXCEEDINGLY SIMPLE TO USE.   A STARTING MECHANISM FOR SELF-POWERED MINIATURE TOY VEHICLES INCLUDING TWO VEHICLE PATHS, RECESSES IN THE PATHS TO ALIGN THE TOY VEHICLES AND A SLIDING SUPPORT FRAME HAVING PROJECTING SWITCH ABUTMENTS TO ENGAGE ACTIVATING SWITCHES OF THE TOY VEHICLES. THE STARTING MECHANISM IS ATTACHED TO A TRACK AT AN ANGLE SO AS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH

Feb. 20, 1973 MERINO ET AL 3,717,346

TOY VEHICLE STARTING MECHANISM Filed D80. 17, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet l United States Patent O 3,717,346 TOY VEHICLE STARTING MECHANISM Dennis H. Merino, Harbor City, Denis V. Bosley, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Daniel R. Lucas, In, Orange, and

Floyd E. Schlau, Palos Verdes Estates, Califi, assignors to Mattel, Inc, Hawthorne, Calif.

Filed Dec. 17, 1970, Ser. No. 99,200 Int. Cl. A63h 18/00 US. Cl. 273-86 R 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A starting mechanism for self-powered miniature toy vehicles including two vehicle paths, recesses in the paths to align the toy vehicles and a sliding support frame having projecting switch abutments to engage activating switches of the toy vehicles. The starting mechanism is attached to a track at an angle so as not to interfere with the toy vehicles once on the track. Upon sliding the support frame, the toy vehicles are energized and an exciting race is begun. The starting mechanism is inexpensive to manufacture and exceedingly simple to use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a toy vehicle starting mechanism and, more particularly, to a toy vehicle starting mechanism for self-powered toy vehicles to simulate the start of a roadrace such as that conducted at Le Mans, France.

Description of the prior art There has been a recent increase in the popularity of small toy vehicles, especially of toy automobiles having freely rotatable wheels such as exemplified by US. Pat. 3,510,981 to H. W. La Branche et al. Usually these vehicles are sold with a track or roadway system such as exemplified in US. Pat. 3,487,999 to A. W. B. Nash et al. The vehicles may be modeled after existing automobiles and have freely rotatable wheels to allow movement at a high velocity for an extended distance since power is derived from the force of gravity.

More recently, self-powered small vehicles have appeared and have been gaining increasing popularity due to their even closer simulation to real automobiles. A self-powered vehicle is one containing a small electric motor having shafts extending axially from both sides of the rotor to form axles for the rear wheels. Electrically connected to the motor is a small rechargeable battery for energizing the motor.

Notwithstanding efforts continue at simulating as closely as possible real automobiles and accessory equip ment. At the same time, toy accessories have been designed to increase the excitement of miniature toy vehicles; for example, the following accessories are now on the market: roadway curves, loops, starting gates, finish gates, speedometers, lap counters and jump ramps. It is to be understood that in addition to providing an exciting and realistic miniature vehicle, it is necessary that all structures be suitable for inexpensive manufacture to allow the mass marketing at a minimum price.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention simulates a roadrace starting procedure by providing a toy vehicle starting mechanism for self-powered vehicles comprising a base for aligning at least one toy vehicle; and means connected to and movable relative the base for actuating the motor of the vehicle.

3,717,346 Patented Feb. 20, 1973 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a starting mechanism attached to a portion of a track section.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a self-powered toy vehicle illustrating the distance between the axis of rotation of the rear driving wheels and the longitudinal axis of an activating switch.

FIG. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the starting mechanism illustrating the activating portion thereof in a first position in solid line and in a second position in dotted line, the view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the activating mechanism of the starting mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational sectional view illustrating a toy vehicle in motion taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, an illustrative embodiment is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not the intention to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed; but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a starting mechanism 10 is connected to a track section 12 having a running surface 14. The track section is somewhat similar to the track section described in the above-mentioned Nash et al. patent, except in the present embodiment, the track running surface 14 is of a width to easily accommodate several miniature toy vehicles aligned side by side. Thus, for racing purposes, the track has a sufiicient width to allow one toy vehicle to pass another in the same fashion as in a real race. It is to be understood that the track section 12 is part of a track layout (not shown) which could take any one of many shapes which may depend upon the race to be simulated. For example, the track section may be part of an oval track design simulating the Indianapolis 500 speedway.

The starting mechanism includes a base 15 having two vehicle pathways 16 and 18, each of which being able to support two vehicles in the embodiment shown so that a total of four vehicles may he raced at one time. The toy vehicle positions are visualized in the drawing by dotted wheels and will be discussed in more detail herein below.

It is noted that the starting mechanism 10 is attached to the track section 12 so that the pathways 16 and 18 are disposed obliquely to the running surface 14. This provides two particular advantages: first, the starting mechanism does not interfere with the track system so that once the vehicles are started that is, once the vehicles are on the track section (which may be part of a closed loop), they will not come into interference with the starting mechanism if the vehicles pass over the track section 12 a number of times; second, the oblique entrance of the vehicles on the running surface simulates closely the Le Mans type roadrace start. Before an actual Le Mans roadrace, the contestant vehicles are aligned obliquely to the road upon which the race will be run and the engines are in an off condition. The race is started by having the drivers sprint across the road surface from the side opposite their vehicles, climb into their vehicles, start the engines and proceed off down the road. In an analogous fashion, the starting mechanism of the present invention allows a number of self-powered vehicles to be placed obliquely relative the running surface of the track section with an operator activating all of the vehicles substantially simultaneously to begin a race.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated in more detail the underside 20 of a self-powered toy vehicle 22. A portion of the underside forms a housing 24 for the electric motor and another portion forms a housing 26 for the rechargeable battery. The vehicle includes four wheels, two rear driving wheels 28 and 30 and two front wheels 32 and 34. Positioned between the motor housing 24 and the battery housing 26 is an activating switch 36 which is moved laterally (or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle) between on and off positions. In order to ensure uniformity of equipment, the distance between the activating switch 36 and the rear wheels 28 and 30 is fixed at some known value indicated in the drawing by the symbol X; more precisely, the distance X is measured from the central longitudinal axis of the activating switch to a line coincident with the axis about which the rear wheels 28 and 30 rotate. As will be explained, this standard distance allows the placement of the vehicle on the starting mechanism in proper alignment regardless of the particular body design of the vehicle. The rear wheels 28 and 30 are attached by shafts 40 and 41, respectively, to the rotor of the electric motor while the front wheels 32 and 34 are connected to a small diameter wire 42 making the wheels freely rotatable in a manner similar to that described in the La Branche et al. patent mentioned hereinabove.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for simulating the start of a roadrace with a very simply constructed, inexpensively manufactured, reliable and easily operated apparatus. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the starting mechanism is comprised of the base having the two vehicle paths 16 and 18 in parallel alignment and separated by an upstanding ridge 52. Each of the paths is formed in the upper surface 54 of the base. Disposed laterally across the vehicle path 16 are two recesses 56 and 58 which are aligned with two recesses 60 and 62 in the vehicle path 18. Spaced a short distance away from each of the recesses 56, 58, 60 and 62 are one of openings 64, 66, 68 and 70, respectively, in the vehicle paths to allow the projection of switch abutments for engaging the activating switch of the toy vehicles. It is noted that the distance between the longitudinal center line of the recess 62 and the longitudinal center line of the opening 70 is represented by the symbol X. This indicates that the distance is identical to that mentioned earlier between the activating switch 36 and the rear wheels 28 and 30 of the vehicle 20, FIG. 2. Thus, the recesses by entrapping the rear wheels of a vehicle act to properly align the vehicles on the vehicle paths so that engagement can be achieved by the switch abutments and the activating switches to energize the motors of the vehicles. This alignment is depicted by the phantom wheels in FIG. 1; for example, the wheels 72 and 74 are entrapped by the recess 60. The corresponding front wheels 76 and 78 are also shown. It is to be understood that while the recesses act to entrap the rear wheels of the toy vehicles for alignment purposes, there is negligible interference with the forward movement of the vehicles once the motors have been actuated.

Mounted adjacent a lower surface 80, FIG. 4, of the base 15 is a support frame 82, FIGS. 4 and 6. The support frame 82 includes two parallel support elements 84 and 86 integrally connected by cross-frame elements 88 and 90. Integral with the support element 84 are two projecting switch abutment 92 and 94, while integral with and projecting from the support element 86 are two switch abutments 96 and 98.

As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 5, the switch abutment 92 includes a small diameter link portion 100 positioned within the opening 68 in the vehicle path 18, a flange portion 102 overlapping and riding upon the upper surface 54 of the base, a switch engagement portion 104 and a transition switch engagement portion 105, the latter two portions for engaging the activating switch of the vehicle, such as the switch 36, FIG. 2. The flange portion 102 and the support element 84 sandwich the vehicle path 18 for helping to retain the support frame 82 to the base 15. The support frame is slideable relative the base so as to move between two positions as will be described in more detail. Each of the other switch abutments 94, 96 and 98 are similarly constructed and function in a manner identical to the switch abutment 92. Adjacent each of the switch abutments 92, 94, 96, 98 is an elongated opening such as the openings 1%, 108, and 112, respectively.

Extending laterally from each of the support elements 84 and 86 are motion limiting arms 114 and 116, respectively, FIGS. 4 and 6. These arms abut respectively depending pins 118 and 120 integral with the lower surface 80 of the base to limit the sliding motion of the support frame. As shown in FIG. 4, the support frame 82 is movable from a first position, as shown in solid line in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, to a second position depicted in FIG. 4 by phantom lines of a portion of the support element 84. It is noted that the arm 114 engages the pin 118 in the second position thereby limiting sliding movement. Integrally connected to the cross-frame member 90 is an upstanding tab 122, FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, which cooperates with an upstanding tab 124 of the base 15, FIGS. 1 and 3, to allow an operator to move the support frame 82 from its first position to its second position.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated in detail the manner in which the switch abutments contact the activating switches of the toy vehicles to initiate a race. Each vehicle is depicted by a set of rear wheels and an activating switch, such as one vehicle having the rear wheels 28a, 30a and the activating switch 36a supported on the vehicle path 18 and another vehicle having the rear wheels 28b, 30b and the activating switch 36b supported on the vehicle path 16. To initiate activation of the vehicles, the activating switch must be moved leftwardly, in FIG. 3, or in an upward direction as depicted in FIG. 2. It is noted that each vehicle is imprinted with the words on and off. The switch is movable over the words to cover one or the other depending upon the switch position. Thus, as shown when the switch is in an off position, the word on is covered and the word oif is visible. In'a similar fashion, when the switch is moved to activate the vehicles, the switch moves to a position as shown in phantom line in FIG. 2 to cover the word off and make visible the word on. It is the function of the switch abutments 96 and 98 to abut with their engaging portions the activating switches 36a and 3612, respectively, to move the switches from the off position to the on position as illustrated by the arrows. To accomplish this, a force is applied to the tab 122 of the support frame and transmitted by the switch abutments 96 and 98 to the activating switches 36a and 36b causing them to move in a leftward direction. Moving the support frame from its first position to its second position causes activation of the toy vehicles.

To enhance operation, the support frame 82 is biased to its first or non-activating position in a simple manner. Connected to each of the support elements 84 and 86 are two laterally extending flexible arms 130 and 132, respectively. The arms which act as cantilevers are each integral at one of their ends 131, 133 with the support elements while the other ends 135, 137 engage, respectively, depending pins 134, 136. The pins extend from the base 15. When the support frame is in its first non-activating position, the arms extend perpendicular from the support elements and are in a non-biasing condition. However, when the support frame is moved to its second or activating position, the arms flex about the ends 131, 133 (which is within their elastic limit) while the ends 135, 137 are restrained by the pins 134, 136. In the flexed position, the arms 130, 132 bias the support frame to its first position. Thus, once the force on the tab 122 is removed, the force engendered by the biasing arms returns the support frame to its first position.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the track section 12 includes two obliquely projecting guide flanges 140 and 142 and six depending connectorarms 144, 145, 146, 147, 148 and 149. Integral with the base 15 is a ledge 150 supporting one track connector 154. This connector engages the track section in a receptacle formed by the arms 144, 145 and a bottom surface 155 of the track section to locate the base relative the track section and allow convenient connection. In order to avoid the guide flange 140 and to provide a more realistic start, the vehicle paths 16 and 18, FIG. 1, are positioned at a height level above the running surface 14 so that upon activation of a vehicle such as the vehicle 20a, it moves along a vehicle path jumping over the guide flange 140 and then falling downwardly onto the running surface 14 as depicted by the arrow 157. The running surface has a number of longitudinally extending ridges, such as the ridge 156 which tend to keep the vehicles moving in a direction parallel to the longitudinally axis of the track section. However, they are not so large as to interfere with lateral movement on the track section so that as the vehicles come moving onto the track section at a high velocity, they will be jostled either by the ridges, by glancing contact with the other flange 142 and/or by glancing contact with the other vehicles. The effect of this scramble is to compensate for the different distances the vehicles have to travel depending upon their position on the starting mechanism and tends to simulate the somewhat chaotic start of 21 Le Mans type roadrace.

On operation, an operator may place one to four vehicles on the starting mechanism with their rear wheels entrapped by the recesses and the front wheels extending toward the track section. At this time, each of the vehicles has its activating switch in its off position. When it is desired to initiate the race, the operator may use one or two hands depending upon age and strength by bracing the forefinger against the base tab 124 and the thumb against the support frame tab 122. 'By moving the thumb so as to bring the two tabs together, the switch abutments of the support frame engage and move the activating switches of the aligned vehicles. As soon as the motors of the vehicles are energized, they move forward along the vehicle paths and then onto the track section.

To ensure ease of manufacturing and minimal expense, the starting mechanism may be made of any suitable material, such as a synthetic resin material. A suitable synthetic material is high-impact polystyrene. The starting mechanism may then be formed in two pieces, the base and the support frame, by known molding techniques. To improve appearance and to add a more exciting dimension to the starting mechanism, large arrows may be designed into the vehicle paths 16 and 18, as shown in FIG. 1, and various portions of the starting mechanism may be given a textured surface.

We claim:

1. A toy vehicle starting mechanism to be used with self-powered toy vehicles each having an activating switch depending from its underside comprising:

a base including a surface having a vehicle path for supporting and aligning at least one of the toy vehicles; and

activating means connected to and slideable relative to said base and including a switch abutment element for activating the aligned toy vehicle, said activating means comprising a support frame mounted adjacent a lower surface of said base, said switch abutment being integral with said support frame and projecting from said support frame to a position above said upper surface of said base to engage the activating switch of the toy vehicle, said support frame being slideable between first and second positions and including means for biasing said support frame to said first position, said biasing means comprising an arm integrally connected to said support frame at one end and engageable at the other end with a pin depending from said base lower surface, said arm being flexible from an unbiasing condition when said support frame is in said first position to a biasing condition when said support frame is in said second position.

2. A toy vehicle starting mechanism to be used with self-powered toy vehicles each having an activating switch as a part thereof comprising:

a base for aligning at least one toy vehicle, said base including an opening and a first tab; and

means connected to and slideable relative to said base and including a switch abutment element for activating the aligned toy vehicle, said switch abutment element being slideable within said opening between first and second positions, a second tab connected to said activating means and integral with said switch abutment wherein movement of said second tab slides said switch abutment, and means connected to said second tab for biasing said switch abutment to said first position wherein said tabs are spaced from one another, and said biasing means comprises an arm integral with said switch abutment and extending outwardly to an end partially restrained by :1 depending pin from said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

273-86 B; 461 K, 202, 243 P; 104-60 

